The Grand Union Canal at its best!

Saturday, 13 December 2008 18:30

So when is a canal at its best? In the rain, of course! Particularly if I can stay below, as John is quite happy wrapped up against the weather, in charge of the tiller! There were no locks today so I was able to catch up below!

However the best laid plans are always best left open. We came across a green narrowboat moored by only its bow rope - the stern was the other side of the canal, completely blocking it! I needed to get dressed up as John needed me on the helm whilst he boarded the boat at the stern. I then manoeuvered Epiphany in reverse, to pull the stern back across the canal and then forward, to go alongside to push the rogue boat in so that John could get off to moor the stern. All in all, an impressive bit of helmsmanship and team work Our good deed for the day for a fellow NABO member - or at least it had a NABO sticker!

What was I doing below? - these photos might just be a clue!          

So Christmas has come in Epiphany - that will confuse the "Googlers" who search  for Christmas and Epiphany ideas and Services at this time of year!
Which comes first Epiphany or Christmas? Depends whether you are a boater or a celebrant!

I glanced out of the window every so often as we cruised, so saw Bugbrook Wharf go by, Heyford Fields Marina and then Nether Heyford where we moored on the way down to meet up with Sue, Vic, Charles and Ann on No Problem and Moore2Life respectively.

Stowehill Wharf has some of the boats they have built moored alongside and then Watling Street begins to accompany the canal, crossing on a skew bridge (22) after Weedon. In a strange conjunction the railway and the M1 also encroach on the peace and quiet of the canal. Four transport means all together must be fairly unusual. The Romans were here first with Watling Street, the canal followed 1800 years later, superseded by The London to Midland railway and then by the 20th century M1.

Surprisingly we saw four hire boats on the move today and a couple of private boats. The weekends can be a little busier despite the weather! We moored behind a boat that we have only seen pictures of. We followed the build Blog and now their travels ever since. We needed some more Taybrite and knowing they were here planned to get it from them. Enough clues yet for our Blogging readers? Well done, you guessed - Nb Hadar, with Keith and Jo!

After us purchasing, and them delivering the sacks, we were kindly invited aboard for a cuppa! It was great to see how cosy Hadar is and how much she is their home. The usual boating chat ensued, sharing experiences, advice and BW experiences! Thanks so much Keith and Jo, we have been looking forward to meeting you on the Cut and seeing Hadar for ourselves.

So here we are betwixt the M1 and Railway, all set for the flight of Buckby locks tomorrow, come rain or shine!

>>> View Next Post		View Previous Post <<<